THE ASHES NOTEBOOK: Hugh Jackman fulfils his dream of watching an Ashes Test and Jimmy Anderson enjoys low-key birthday celebrations

Although play was abandoned due to rain, it still proved the be an eventful day as the Ashes edged towards its conclusion.

There were plenty of talking points away from the action too, with a famous actor in attendance. 

Mail Sport’s Aadam Patel provides some highlights from Sunday at The Oval.

Superhero fulfils Ashes Test dream 

Sunday saw Australian actor Hugh Jackman fulfil a lifelong dream of watching an Ashes Test match live. 

Jackman, best known as Wolverine in the X-Men film series, tweeted: ‘I dreamt of this moment as a kid. Never thought it’d happen. If only I could go back in time and tell that scrawny little boy… believe it!’ 

His Instagram story was good value, too, describing the opening delivery of the day as the ‘first pitch’, before sharing a picture describing ‘cricket explained to a foreign visitor’. Cricket Australia’s social media team did try to interview the 54-year-old but had no luck. 

Australian actor Hugh Jackman fulfilled his dream of watching an Ashes Test match live

Australia have bowled just 34 maidens across the 648.5 overs they have bowled to England in the series — obliterating the record for the fewest maidens bowled in a five-Test series.

The previous record was 74 in 1924 when South Africa toured England. In Ashes history, the fewest maidens ever bowled in a series before Australia’s 34, was 56. That was during the 1886/87 series, which only had two Tests.

Jimmy Anderson’s 41st birthday celebrations were relatively low-key, with a birthday card signed by the team and presented to him in the dressing room before play.

Before the rain arrived, the crowd serenaded him with birthday songs whenever he was fielding on the boundary, while his two daughters, Lola and Ruby, put up a hand-made message in the hospitality box, where his family were sat, that said: ‘Happy 41st Birthday Dad.’ 

Anderson will hope he can celebrate in style today, alongside the retiring Broad, by winning the final Test. 

Jimmy Anderson’s 41st birthday celebrations were relatively low-key ahead of play

England’s next Test is in Hyderabad in January when they take on India in a five-match series, but it remains to be seen where it will be televised in the UK, with India’s cricket governing body known for leaving their negotiations late. 

When England last toured India, in 2021, Channel 4 showed Test cricket on terrestrial television for the first time since 2005 but that is unlikely this time, given that deal was struck during the height of the pandemic. 

It is expected to be a showdown between Sky and TNT for the rights. 

It remains to be seen whether England’s next in India in January will be shown live in the UK